Kanye West recorded a top 20 hit with his mouth wired shut

In October 2002 while working on his debut rap album, Kanye was nearly killed in an early morning car accident in Los Angeles. The crash left his jaw so badly fractured that it had to be shut.

True to form, West did not let this impairment impede his album's progress; in fact, he even recorded a song called "Through the Wire!" The tune, a humorous account of Kayne's recovery from the accident, peaked at #15 on the Billboard charts for five weeks. Later, it was even nominated for "Best Rap Solo Performance" at the 2005 Grammy Awards! To learn more about Kanye, check out this biography.